The following biography was taken from an official "TYR" press kit sent out by ABC. This information is not to be used or borrowed without my expressed written permission. Thanks! :-)

Filmography | Picture Gallery

Don Franklin portrays the determined and passionate Pony Express rider Noah Dixon. Franklin has the rare distinction of being the first black actor to play a cowboy in a regular series role on television. Franklin plays a free-born black man liberally raised and educated by white teachers. When a law made it illegal for blacks to own land, young Noah's parents were killed in a fight to keep possession of their property. Faced with newfound racial prejudice, Noah ventures out on his own, eventually joining the Pony Express riders.

Don starred in MGM/UA Television's "Knightwatch" series for ABC, and the NBC series "Nasty Boys". He also guest-starred as Lisa Bonet's boyfriend on "The Cosby Show."

A Chicago native, Franklin's theatrical interest began as a child, singing in the choir. Throughout high school he won vocal competitions which eventually led him to do musical comedy. His interests gradually expanded to include dance.

Franklin's various regional theater credits include "A Chorus Line" and "The Middle of Nowhere in the Middle of the Night" for which he received a Joseph Jefferson nomination for Best Actor.

Franklin's film credits include Columbia Pictures' "Fast Forward" directed by Sidney Poitier, as well as Warner Bros' "Moving" with Richard Pryor, and "The Big Picture" starring Martin Short.

Franklin resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Sheila, and enjoys a multitude of sports including swimming, basketball, track, tennis, baseball and now horseback riding. Franklin picked up his equestrian skills after just four days of training prior to filming his first episode of The Young Riders.

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